In a recent , CollegeFinance.com asked over 1,000 college students, graduates, and hiring managers to measure interest and opinions surrounding gap years. They found:
- 46% of college students intended on taking a gap year at some point in their life.
- Nearly 15% of college students planned on taking a gap year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 78% of college graduates participating in a gap year believed the time helped clarify what they wanted to do in life.
- 31% of college graduates believed gap years should be mandatory during college.
- 67% of hiring managers believed it beneficial for students and recent graduates to take a gap year amid the pandemic.
- 21% of hiring managers were more likely to hire a candidate who had taken a gap year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed so much uncertainty about whether colleges in the U.S. will resume on-campus classes for the 2020 academic year. While some colleges will adopt a hybrid model, others are opting for longer days and shortened semesters. Many students, and their families, are reluctant to pay traditional costs for a virtual experience. For many current and future college students, the in-person experience of traditional classes, peer interaction, and on-campus activities are essential to the collegiate experience. This has led to a huge uptick of young people deferring college to take a gap year.
Tags: CollegeFinance.com
